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Chicago Public Schools To Launch Secure Ed Tech Software Catalog For School Leaders

Software Portal Will Allow School Leaders to Make Secure Software Purchases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, June 24, 2015

CHICAGO – Chicago Public Schools (CPS) announced today it will be launching an interactive Education Technology catalog that will allow school leaders to identify and purchase educational software products that both meet the individual needs of each school and meet District standards for student data, interoperability and IT security.

At the Chicago Board of Education’s June Board Meeting, the Board approved agreements with 74 Ed Tech vendors to provide instructional materials and learning products that will be offered through the District’s interactive software catalog. All 74 vendors qualified through an RFQ process. The software catalog is expected to launch this summer.

“Ed Tech software has become a crucial component of a well-rounded education, and it’s vital for CPS to make software acquisition an easy, informed and safe process for principals,” said CPS Interim CEO Jesse Ruiz. “This secure software portal will be one of the first of its kind for a large urban school district, and we are committed to empowering school leaders to make informed decisions based on their unique needs.”

CPS is launching an interactive software portal to provide principals with the knowledge and security they need to make informed decisions about Ed Tech purchases. Currently, CPS, like most large urban school districts, requires each school to identify, procure, implement and evaluate Ed Tech products largely on their own. By vetting software products through a recurring RFQ process at the District level for security purposes, CPS is alleviating risk on the part of principals and providing them with a variety of products that could be used to enhance their school’s mission.

In addition to providing principals with a catalog of software options that meet basic District standards for student data, interoperability and IT security, the catalog will allow principals to post product information that will be viewable by other school leaders and educators. This will allow principals to discuss which vendor will best meet the school's needs among their colleagues to help make an informed decision.

CPS will continue to offer principals autonomy when making decisions about the instructional materials and learning products utilized in their classrooms. While the Ed Tech catalog will provide principals with an enhanced level of security and information when making software decisions for their schools, principals will retain the ability to purchase outside of the software products offered in the catalog.

Chicago Public Schools serves 396,000 students in 664 schools. It is the nation’s third-largest school district.

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Chicago Public Schools is the third largest school district in the United States with more than 600 schools and serves 371,000 children. Our vision is that every student in every neighborhood will be engaged in a rigorous, well-rounded instructional program and will graduate prepared for success in college, career and life.